In April 2021, Andy visited Wilson Creek Winery as part of a group retreat. Confused about what brought them there, Andy soon discovered that Mick Wilson, one of the owners, was his group leader's mentor and former college ministry leader.

During the tour, Mick took them behind the scenes, letting them taste wine straight from the tanks. Andy was captivated: here was someone who'd built an empire around wine while living in a gorgeous Tuscan-style villa. Intrigued, he asked Mick what he should watch or read to learn more about wine. "Start with the SOMM films," Mick suggested. That night, Andy watched them all and never looked back.

What struck him most was watching Master Sommelier candidates blind taste wines, perfectly identifying them by sight, smell, and taste alone. He'd never seen anything like it – a skill he didn't even know existed. The idea that wine was an endless well of knowledge captivated the former Naval Officer. It might seem like the wildest pivot in the world – from graduating the United States Naval Academy with a degree in Ocean Engineering and spending five years in naval warfare to smelling and selling wine professionally – but Andy was all in.

He dove deep into wine education, earning his Level 3 certification from the National Wine School, and is currently pursuing his Court of Master Sommeliers Certified Sommelier (CMS 2) certification. Knowing they wanted to share exceptional wines with others through an online platform (and hopefully someday a brick-and-mortar shop), Andy and his wife Madi set out to explore Europe's wine regions firsthand.

Their journey took them through the Loire Valley – winding through Chinon, Borgueil, Vouvray, Touraine, Saumur, and Saumur-Champigny. In Italy, they immersed themselves in Tuscany's renowned regions from Chianti and Chianti Classico to Brunello and Montepulciano, ventured through Lombardy near Milan and Lake Como, and discovered the coastal vineyards around Cinque Terre.

What transformed their appreciation into passion was being welcomed into the homes of winemakers throughout their travels. They discovered that wine could be so much more than the mass-produced, chemical-laden bottles found in grocery stores. Here were families creating their livelihood through wines that spoke of tradition, culture, weather, and terroir – offering amazing value and delicious taste that commoditized wines simply couldn't match.

This revelation led them to launch Harvest, bringing these hidden treasures back to their hometown of San Diego and, through the power of the internet, sharing them with wine lovers around the world.

Growing up with a father who appreciated fine wine, Madi developed an early discernment for what filled her glass. While her peers were exploring other drinks in college, she found herself drawn to wine's complexity and the way it brought people together around a table.

Her appreciation deepened through her travels around the world, each destination adding new layers to her understanding of wine culture. But it was when Andy began his wine education journey that Madi's casual interest transformed into genuine passion. She dove into every aspect alongside him – from study sessions and blind tastings to vineyard visits and production techniques. Wine became their shared language of discovery.

The summer of 2022 proved transformative when they explored the Loire Valley and Tuscany. While Andy analyzed terroir and production methods, Madi found herself captivated by something else entirely: the seamless integration of wine into daily life in the Loire Valley. She discovered the joy of long lunches in sunlit gardens, the ritual of selecting the perfect bottle for each meal, and the way wine wasn't just a beverage but a bridge between people, food, and tradition.

Throughout their visits to family producers in Chinon, Borgueil, Vouvray, and beyond, Madi fell in love with the French lifestyle – the unhurried appreciation of life's pleasures, the emphasis on quality over quantity, and the deep connection to the land. She was particularly drawn to the Loire Valley's wine varieties, from the crisp Chenin Blancs of Vouvray to the elegant Cabernet Francs of Chinon. These weren't just wines; they were expressions of a way of life she wanted to embrace and share with others.

Now, as co-founder of Harvest, Madi brings this perspective to their venture – not just the technical aspects of wine, but its power to transform everyday moments into celebrations. And while she's fully committed to building their wine business in San Diego, she keeps a picture of a quaint Loire Valley cottage on her vision board. After all, who says you can't have the best of both worlds?